Skull Stone

by Ros Barber (Brighton)

I came to Brighton for the first time ever on a student demo on a coach. I really wanted to be militant. Dropped at St Peter’s church, we walked to the Steine, marched up North Street, all very militant, and then I remember finding myself in the Lanes.

My friends and I wandered around happily for the rest of the day. I don’t know what happened to the march. At sunset I found myself on the beach thinking what a wonderful place, I’ll never live anywhere like this. I found a stone that looked like a skull.

It was hefty, pyramid-like, with three holes: a skeletal looking nose and two eyes. I thought if I take this from Brighton beach, everything will come right. It went with me back to Southampton, then Coventry, and London. And I guess it brought me luck.

I had too many possessions; it was time to let the stone go, let go of superstition. I returned the stone to the beach near the water early one morning as the sun came up, and walked away. I can see it there still, looking at me.

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What Ros Barber says about Skull Stone:

The teller of this Brighton tale wishes to remain anonymous.